Improvement in guards for boot-straps



J. E. CURTIS.

Guard for Boot Straps.

N0I 125,27@ Patented Aprl2,1872.

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JOHN E. CURTIS, OF MARLBORCUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GUARDSFOR BOTSTRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,274, dated April 2, 1872. Y

Be it known that I, JOHN E. CURTrs, of Marlborough, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a. Guard for Boot or Slice-Straps, of which the following is a full,.clear, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view ofthe upper part ot' the leg of a boot, representing my guard applied to oneot' its straps. Figs. 2 and 3 are sections through the same. Fig. et is a perspective view ot' my guard detached and open ready for use.

In the various stages of the manufacture of a boot or shoe, the straps attached to the leg near its top, are liable by the frequent handling of the workman, to become soiled, to avoid which it has been customary to cover the straps with paper, which requires some time to apply, and after having been applied to one strap cannot be utilized in covering an` other 5 to overcome which objection is the purpose of my invention, which consists in aguard or shield provided with a clasp or other fastening for covering the strap, while the boot or shoe is being handled by the workman in the several stages of the manufacture of the boot or shoe, said guard or shield being readily removed from the strap when the boot or shoe is tinished.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawing, A is the upper portion of the leg of a boot, to which is secured the straps a a, by which it is drawn upon the foot of the wearer. A strip of webbing of a little greater width than that of one of the straps, a, and of a length, when doubled, equal to the length of the exposed portion of the strap, has secured to its lower ends two plates, B B, hinged at b, and locked when closed together by a catch, c, the webbing forming a guard or shield, C, for covering and protecting the stra-p from being soiled when the boot is handled (see Figs. l and 2.) The guard or shield is held in place over the strap by the claspin g of the hinged plates together, the pressure eX erted thereby being suiicient to retain the guard upon the strap, and as the gua-rd or shield is open at its sides, the fingers of the workman may be introduced to pull 011 the strap, as heretofore.

Instead of the hinged plates and catch for holding the ends of the guard in place upon the strap, any other suitable fastening, such as an elastic ring, or sliding band may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the guard or shield, constructed substantially as described, is always at hand, may be readily applied and removed, and may be used continuously for the straps of any number ot' boots and shoes, whereby the labor and inconvenience of applying a separate paper gua-rd for each strap, as heretofore, is avoided.

In addition to keeping the straps clean, my improved guard lalso serves to hold it in a straight and smooth position, all wrinklin g being thereby avoided.

The plates may be perforated, it' desired, to create additional friction in order thereby to fully insure the guard being retained in place upon the strap.

vChaim.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A guard or shield, C, provided with a suitable fastening for keeping it in place upon the strap ot' a boot or shoe, for the `purpose described.

Witness my hand this 10th day of February, A. D. 1872.

J. E. CURTIS.

In presence of- N. W. STEARNs, W. J. CAMBRIDGE. 

